Table of Contents Accessible Voting Unit.............................................. 1 To Vote Your Ballot................................................... 2 Sample Ballot.......................................................... 2-4 Dear .Whatcom.County.Voter: Where Can I Deposit My Ballot?............................ 5 How.important.is.your.family’s.health.and.welfare?.How.important. Voter Information..................................................... 5 is.it.that.in.the.event.of.a.medical.emergency,.EMTs.arrive.quickly?. Is.the.attractiveness.and.safety.of.your.neighborhood.important.to. Candidates............................................................ 6-27 you?.In.the.event.of.a.fire,.is.it.important.that.firefighters.respond. Port.of.Bellingham................................................. 6 quickly.to.save.your.home?.How.important.is.it.that.your.school. age.children.are.the.first.and.foremost.concern.of.your.school. Whatcom.County............................................ 6.&.7 district.directors?.How.important.is.your.drinking.water?.Are.local. recreational.activities.important.to.you? . Cities................................................................. 8-14 It’s.been.said.that.local.elections.are.not.as.important.as.state.and. School.Districts...............................................14-18 national.elections..Local.elections.are.critically.important.because. Fire.Protection.Districts.................................. 18-21 they.directly.affect.you,.your.family,.and.your.livelihood.. Water.Districts.................................................21-23 Take.time.to.research.what.the.candidates.consider.important..The. vision.you.hold.for.your.children,.your.neighborhood,.and.the. Cemetery.Districts...........................................24-26 recreational.activities.you.enjoy.may.not.be.the.same.as.a.candidate’s.. Park.and.Recreation.Districts..........................26-27 Don’t.let.your.fate.be.a.decision.that.a.neighbor.or.relative.makes..Be. proactive.and.get.to.know.the.candidates.that.will.be.representing.and. Hospital.Districts..................................................27 affecting.you.and.your.family..Vote.for.your.future. .. Ballot Measures ................................................. 28-31 Sincerely, Ballot Measure Complete Text ......................... 32-35 Shirley.Forslof Local Voters’ Pamphlet is also available on the Whatcom.County.Auditor Auditor’s website: www.whatcomcounty.us/auditor Participating.Jurisdictions: Port.of.Bellingham.Commissioner.Districts.1,.2;.Whatcom.County.Council.Districts.1,.2,.3,.and.At-Large;.City.of.Bellingham.Municipal.Court.Judge;.City.of.Bellingham.Council.Wards.2,.4,.6,.and. At-Large;.City.of.Blaine.Council.Wards.1,.2,.3,.and.At-Large;.City.of.Everson.Mayor;.City.of.Everson.Council.Positions.1,.2,.3;..City.of.Ferndale.Council.Positions.5,.6,.7;.City.of.Lynden.Mayor;. City.of.Lynden.Council.Positions.4,.5,.6,.7;.City.of.Nooksack.Mayor;.City.of.Nooksack.Council.Positions.1,.2,.3;.City.of.Sumas.Mayor;.City.of.Sumas.Council.Positions.1,.2,.4;.Bellingham.School. District.No..501;.Ferndale.School.District.No..502;.Blaine.School.District.No..503;.Lynden.School.District.No..504;.Meridian.School.District.No..505;.Nooksack.Valley.School.District.No..506,.Mt.. Baker.School.District.No..507;.Concrete.School.District.No..11;.Fire.Protection.District.Nos..1,.2,.4,.5,.6,.7,.8,.9,.10,.11,.14,.16,.17,.18,..21;.Glacier.Fire.&.Rescue.19;.South.Whatcom.Fire.Authority;. Pt..Roberts.Water.District.No..4;.Water.District.Nos..7,.13;.Birch.Bay.Water.&.Sewer.District.No..8;.Lake.Whatcom.Water.&.Sewer.District;.Samish.Water.District;.Glacier.Water.District.No..14.;. Acme.Water.District.No..18;.Evergreen.Water.&.Sewer.District.No..19;.Cemetery.District.Nos..1,.2,.3,.4,.5,.6,.7,.8,.10,.11;.Pt..Roberts.Park.&.Recreation.District.No..1;.Northwest.Park.&.Recreation. District.No.2;..Lynden.Regional.Park.&.Recreation.District.No..3;.Hospital.District.No..304;.Pt..Roberts.Public.Hospital.District;.Whatcom.County.Rural.Library.District Published.by.the.Whatcom.County.Auditor’s.Office:..www.whatcomcounty.us/auditor. Cover.Photo.by.Lori.Starkovich Accessible Voting Unit What is an Accessible Voting Unit? An.accessible.voting.unit.(AVU).is.federally.required..It.is.equipped.with.visual.and.audio.technology. that.allows.voters.with.impaired.vision.and/or.physical.disabilities.to.vote.a.secret.ballot..The.AVU.is.an. accurate.and.secure.way.to.vote. Where will the AVU be located? TheVU.A .will.be.located.at.the.Whatcom.County.Auditor’s.Office,.Whatcom.County.Courthouse,. 311.Grand.Ave.,.Suite.103,.Bellingham,.WA.. When can I vote using the AVU? You.may.vote.beginning.Wednesday,.October.14,.2009..The.AVU.will.be.available.to.vote.in.the. Auditor’s.Office.Mon..–.Fri.,.10:00.a.m..–.3:00.p.m. The.AVU.will.be.available.on.Election.Day,.Tuesday,.November.3,.2009,.from.7:00.a.m..–.8:00.p.m. Is the AVU secure? Yes.VU .The.A .stands.alone.and.is.not.connected.to.the.Internet.or.an.intranet..When.a.vote.is.cast.the. ballot.selections.are.encrypted.and.stored.within.the.voting.unit..The.ballot.order.is.scrambled.to.ensure. the.voter’s.anonymity.and.leaves.no.connection.between.the.voter.and.his.or.her.recorded.vote. How can I be sure my vote will be counted? TheVU.A .displays.a.paper.record.of.your.selections.before.you.cast.your.ballot..Your.secret.ballot.is. electronically.stored.and.it.cannot.be.traced.back.to.you.. Trim Trim To Vote Your Ballot VOTER: Remove and discard this stub before returning your ballot. PERFPERF PERFPERF Use blue or black ink. Do NOT Step 1: To Vote Your Ballot. OFFICIAL BALLOTStep 5: Sign the Voter Affidavit. Read and sign the voter use a felt tip pen or pencil. Draw a single line to connect the affidavit on the back of the return envelope. WA37-1-A1 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON arrow. Do not cut or deface your ballot.GENERAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 2009 To Vote: Use either blue or black ink. Do not use a felt tip pen or pencil. • The return envelope must be signed by you in order Connect The Head and Tail of the arrow that points to your choice with a Single Linefor as your ballot to beVersion: 78 counted. If you are unable to sign CORRECT INCORRECTshown. Optech 3PE4c Optech your name, have two Corporation c Resources Election 2000 Copyright people witness your mark on your • IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE: Draw a line through the entire candidate’sballot name envelope. like this: John Doe You then have the option of making• Ballot signatures are matched with your voter another choice if you wish. Use blue or black ink • Write-In: To vote for a person not on the ballot, connect the arrow and registration.write in to connect the arrow the name of the person on the line provided. by your choice with a • Overvote: More than one vote for an office or ballot measure will be an Trim Seal the envelope so the Trim overvote and no votes for that office or measureStep will be6: counted. Protect Your Privacy. Trim Trim single line. privacy flap covers your signatureVOTER: as Remove indicated and discard onthis stubthe before returning your ballot. Do NOT use a felt VOTER: Remove and discard this stub before returning your ballot.envelope. STATE OF WASHINGTON County Council District No. 2 tip pen or pencil. Position A PERFPERF PERFPERF PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION PERFPERF Nonpartisan Vote For One PERFPERF INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 1033 4 YearStep Term 7: Mail Your Ballot. Affix first-class postage before you WA37-2-0301-0066 Initiative Measure No. 1033 concerns OFFICIAL BALLOTMary Beth Teigrob deposit your ballot in the mail. WA37-1-B1 state, county and city revenue. WHATCOMThis COUNTY, WASHINGTON measure would limit growth GENERALof certain ELECTION - NOVEMBERKen Mann 3, 2009 • More than one vote for state,an officecounty and orcity revenueballot to measureannual will be • In order for your vote to Votingbe instructionscounted, areyour on the reverse side. Score 3 Score an overvote and no votesinflation for and that population Tooffice Vote: growth, Use or either notballot blue or blackmeasure ink. Do not use a felt tip pen or pencil. Version: 78 including voter-approved revenue ballot envelope needs to be postmarked Write-In 3PE4c Optech Connect The Head and Tail of the arrow that points to your choice with a Single Line as Version: 78 will be counted, unlessincreases. specifically Revenue collectedallowed above bythe law. no later than Election Day or deposited in the Corporation c Resources Election 2000 Copyright limit would reduceshown property. tax levies. County Council District No. 3 Optech 3PE4c Optech Position A Curbside Ballot Drop Corporation c Resources Election 2000 Copyright Box located at 311 Grand Ave., 301 Should this measure be enacted into law? Nonpartisan Vote For One • IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE: Draw4 Year a line Term through the entire candidate’sby name 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Step 2: Remove Stub. Remove the stub at thelike topthis: John of theDoe You then have the option of making Michelle Luke another choice if you wish. ballot at the perforation and discard the• stub. Write-In: ToYES vote for a person not on the ballot, connect the arrow and write in WHATCOM COUNTY RURAL WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE CarlIF Weimer YOU MAKE A MISTAKE: Draw a line through the entire candidate’s the name of the person on the line provided. LIBRARY DISTRICT PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 21 NO name like this: John Doe You then have the option of making • Overvote: More than one vote for an office or ballot measure will be an WHATCOM COUNTY RURAL PROPOSITION NO. 1 Step 3: Keep It Secret. Place the voted ballot in the white LIBRARY DISTRICT Whatcom County Fire Protection PASSED BY THE LEGISLATUREovervote AND and no votes for that officeWrite-In anotheror measure will choice, be counted. if you wish. Do not erase! secrecy envelope and sealORDERED it. REFERRED BY PETITION PROPOSITION NO. 1 District No. 21 Trim County Council At-Large LEVY FOR LIBRARY OPERATIONS AND Trim REFERENDUM MEASURE NO. 71 INCREASING NUMBER OF Nonpartisan Vote For One MAINTENANCE COMMISSIONERS FROM THREE TO FIVE STATE OF WASHINGTON 4 YearTo Term write-inCounty Council a name District notNo.